Feedback for Strava's new maps (OpenStreetMap)

Strava is actively working with Mapbox (the open source mapping platform that supplies us with OpenStreetMap) to make sure we offer the best mapping experience for our athletes.

Mapbox gives us the opportunity to create customized maps that fit aesthetically and functionally with Strava. With open source data, errors or missing map assets can be fixed quickly and efficiently, creating the most detailed and robust maps for cycling and running. We believe in the potential and power of maps by OSM and we're focused on giving the Strava community the best experience possible.

Where did Street View go?

Mapbox does not provide Street View functionality at this time. We realize this functionality was valuable for some athletes; we'll do our best to re-incorporate it when possible.

August 14th, 2015:

We’re 100% committed to making Strava better for our athletes, and we hear you loud and clear regarding this switch from Google Maps to OSM. We didn’t anticipate how strongly some of our athletes would react to the change and apologize that it was a sudden disappointment to some of you. We could have done a better job explaining our reasoning and bracing you for the switch, handling the roll-out, taking more time to work with Mapbox, etc.

It may not seem like it now, but we believe deeply that changing to OSM is the best choice we can make for our athletes and our company. There is enormous potential and creative flexibility offered by the new maps and we ask that you stick with us and continue providing feedback as we bring that potential to fruition.

Your reports on the quality of the maps, such as missing map data and satellite image quality, can be addressed. We are working closely Mapbox, our OSM map provider, on both satellite imagery and road data and we’re invested in improving your experience. By providing specific examples of satellite and road data, we can act quickly to update the map data.

We've noted all your comments regarding street view, and understand how important it is to you. The top use for street view seems to center around segments, in viewing segment start and end coordinates as well as viewing the road surface and surroundings. Street view is still available when creating segments, and it may be possible to return street view to other areas of the segment experience. We will have more to share on this soon.

Our designers are compiling initial thoughts on how Strava can leverage certain styles, colors and shading to customize the map experience. We are already incorporating the existing feedback we’ve received here. Please continue to send us your feedback on how the look and feel of the maps can be improved.

- The Strava Team

August 21st, 2015:

When you visit a segment page, you can now click either endpoint of the segment to be brought to the street view for that location. Or, you can select one of the options from the map view menu (pictured below).

This addition is not meant to fully resolve your concerns about the switch to Mapbox. We're doing the best we can to respond to your feedback quickly while still maintaining our commitment to elevate your map experience with Mapbox. It's going to take time and we ask that you stick with us, and we'll continue to take your feedback to heart and iterate whenever possible.

September 2nd, 2015

We've just updated our maps to support four languages: English, French, German and Spanish. Now, if you're traveling or viewing the map in another country, you'll be able to see map labels and place names in your language.

How it works: If you have Strava set to one of the above four languages, you will see map labels in that language. For any other language that is not supported at this time, you will see the default map which displays regional language. To change your language preferences, use the menu at the bottom of any Strava page.

This map update also refreshes imagery for the Satellite map in select areas.

October 22nd, 2015

We're excited to announce updated maps in collaboration with Mapbox, featuring an intuitive display of map data and activity-specific styling. Designed especially with runners and cyclists in mind, we focused on a visual experience that would relay the map information we believe most helpful to our athletes:

Offset road labels for better visibility along activities

Visually distinct running and cycling paths

Highlighted pedestrian areas, outdoor areas, and parks

Vivid terrain styling and high-contrast mountain areas

Lower map label density for urban areas

Major highways and high-traffic roads de-prioritized in grey

Added points of interest most relevant to activity on Strava

Contour lines and elevation labels on satellite view

This is the first of several map projects we are working on as part of our ongoing goal to make your mapping experience on Strava more accurate, informative and rich.

Комментарии

@Tim M, if there just are a few roads I suggest you create an account on www.openstreetmap.org and add them. This sounds like a problem you can fix your self within minutes. OSM maps are as accurate as we make them.

@Mattias E. , ..., I know that I can update the OS maps but that's only part of the problem. I know that there is one whole subdivision missing and I know of several others that are incorrect or partially-missing and that's just in the small areas around my regular commute, that I checked quickly. I'm assuming that there are many others that are farther afield that may or may not be wrong and I won't know about those until I get to them on a cycling trip someday. And that doesn't cover the concerns regarding satellite data and StreetView.

[BTW, I have also made many changes to Google Maps in my area to correct details there as well, so it's not that I'm unwilling to help with that sort of thing. The difference is that the Google Map changes were not related to whole streets not being there - they were minor changes that only locals would be more likely to know.]

"Unfortunately, Google maps will not be returning to Strava even as an "on/off" toggle. We're focusing on the road ahead and giving the Strava community the best experience we can with Open Street Maps. "

...same had happened with Maps in IOS, Rubitrack on OS X and now STRAVA. Why don't you just pay Google for their maps - as I pay for your service?

The new Terrain View is horrible! Mountains are just blurred mud - you cannot see any contours.

The total lack of UX consideration is not what I'd expected of Strava. For the dozens of people commenting here, how many more are venting their frustration in silence? Looks like Strava lost its way - the beginning of the end of something awesome.

@Evan Stade - I'm looking into your report as we speak! Seems like something we can fix regarding the "click and drag" functionality with the map causing the route outline to disappear for newly revealed portions.

Also when dragging the map with a mouse, the "fling" motion is hard to trigger intentionally but often triggers unintentionally, sending you past the desired stop point. Flinging should probably just be disabled completely (at least for mouse; maybe it works better for touch).

"Unfortunately, Google maps will not be returning to Strava even as an "on/off" toggle. We're focusing on the road ahead and giving the Strava community the best experience we can with Open Street Maps." = we don't care about what our customers say.

As off-road cyclist, I welcome the used openstreetmap, or, better, opencyclemap. The problem is that the new map engine does not really add any info for off-road cyclists, and make life worse for road cyclist!!! all the off-road routes are marked in the same color, which makes it pretty much useless (footpaths and cyclepath are the same color...). Moreover, StravistiX doesnt work anymore and satellite images are low quality.... I welcome changes, but if they are well made and thought through!!!

Reading the comments of the users, I think many people don't know what is OSM....

OSM in many case are more accurate than Google Maps because many people correct or update the map. Looking ahead (and not only now) I think it is the right choice because OSM give many details and informations that Google Maps will never give; for example fountains bike shop and many other things that cyclist could find usefull.

The informations of the ground terrain or asphalt there is on OSM, depends on what layout you use; in this case strava could choose a better layout. In some case is it possibile give the grade of off-road path for MTB bikers

OSM is like Wikipedia, nobody could tell Wikipedia is worse only because it is free and created by volunteers , we could not imagine a encyclopedia and don't think about Wikipedia!

StreetView is usefull tool, but for my opinion It can not be the only reason to use Google Maps

The loss of street view especially for Segments is a real, real loss especially for those of us who often ride in new and unknown areas. The loss is not only one of convenience but of safety too as I often use the function to check the state and condition of roads before I ride them. I know I can still access google maps separately but as a Strava premium member for over 3 years I'm amazed and appalled at the arrogance of this statement which essentially says "we know you won't like this but that's tough, we're doing it anyway!"

Losing street view is a serious downgrade. I used it frequently to plan routes and check the start and finish of segments...especially potentially dangerous segments where start and stop locations may be hazardous. VERY bad decision.

@Marco, I actually like OSM and have contributed info to it. I can tell you that where I live (rural Sweden) OSM is almost an empty sheet. Of course I could sit down and spend a lot of time (because it is time consuming with the tools available) and essentially draw my own maps. Why should I pay for that? I think it is boring, and it is exactly therefore I buy services to handle it for me.

To say that OSM is better than Google maps, and we don't know OSM is a really brave statement ;-)

It seems like you didn't read what people are complaining about; it's not just about the loss of StreetView (though that is a big one!) OSM also has lower resolution satellite imagery compared to Google Maps. I'm also not sure what you mean by Google Maps not showing bike shops or paths as that information is there, even for my small town.

@Niels Prösch Probably in your country there aren't many Open Street mappers (and I see, in effect there is poor detail) but where I live the different is huge, for street (any kind), path, place, building, shops, peek, mountain pass, alpine hut, rural building, mountain lakes, natural area (for example wood,scree, bare rook, glacier) and so on....

And so I think the best thinks is choose if use OSM or Google Maps. But you can't tell that Google Maps is the best in any case for every use end every place (is not so!)

@Joel Dudgeon OSM don't have satellite imagery!!! it depens on what image Strava would use. When you use JOSM (or Potlatch) for mapping it use Bing satellite imagery but it isn't a obbligation! and in some case latest Bing image area are more detailed...